Im going to test drive a hybrid event type tonight. My brain is fried, so I may not be all there, bear with me.

Its going to be a combination of Manhunt and Assassination, and it should be pretty simple. Once the PCs manage to locate the area where the enemy is holding a hostage, they must send in stealth experts to skirt the guards, locate the enemy leader, and assassinate him before he detects them and can execute the hostage.

If the PCs are detected once inside the building, the guards will raise a general alert, and the enemy leader will execute the hostage. The enemy leader can still be killed, but there will be no bonus awards.

First was to investigate the caravan he was supposed to leave with, but never showed up for. They hadnt seen him. Some investigating in Campton, Mr. Hines hometown, also turned up fruitless.

Searching mountainholm castle, clues from both Mrs. Hines and local merchants pointed to possible bandit troubles, and the nearby Temple of the Warder, where Mr. Hines sometimes prayed before his journeys. The priest of the temple had gone missing after chasing some bandits out of town. No one had seen him return.

It turned out the bandits had captured the temple, and were holding Mr. Hines hostage. They were preparing demands, but had not made any announcements. Skilled as she was, Ms. Shadowknight bravely and stealthily entered the temple with wizard Aevary Blackstone, and attempted to sneak their way to where Mr. Hines was being held.

In an abyssmal turn of fate.... they were spotted. As the sentries called out the Alarm, the order was given... the brave adventurers raced towards the back of the temple as fast as their legs could carry them... but it was too late... in the midst of their furious rush, they heard a bloodcurdling scream as Mr. Hines was struck down.

They enacted vengeance.... but there was nothing they could offer to console Mrs. Hines. Her husband was dead.